Cooking Oil and Tomatoes Among Items Whose Prices Increased in August

The cost of living continues to weigh on Kenyan households, with annual inflation rising to 6.6 per cent in August from 6.5 per cent in July, according to the latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

Consumer prices are 6.6 per cent higher in August 2026 than in the same month last year, as food, transport and housing-related costs pushed up the overall inflation rate.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages posted an annual inflation rate of 9 per cent, while transport costs rose by 15.7 per cent. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded a 3.6 per cent increase.

Together, the three categories made up more than 57 per cent of the weight used to calculate the Consumer Price Index across 13 major expenditure groups.

Food prices drive household costs

Several items commonly bought by households cost more in August than they did a year earlier.

Irish potatoes recorded the biggest annual increase at 32.7 per cent, while tomatoes were 29.3 per cent more expensive than in August 2025.

Beef with bone rose by 12.1 per cent, while sugar prices increased by 10.8 per cent over the same period.

Salad cooking oil was 3.8 per cent more expensive than a year earlier. Sifted maize flour and fresh packeted cow milk each recorded a 2.6 per cent increase, while non-aromatic white rice rose by 0.4 per cent.

The annual figures, however, do not tell the same story as the month-to-month changes.

Between July and August, sifted maize flour prices fell by 2.7 per cent, tomatoes dropped by 2.2 per cent and salad cooking oil declined by 0.4 per cent.

Despite those monthly declines, the three products were still more expensive in August than they were a year earlier.

Also Read: Milk Prices Set to Rise as COFEK Warns of Worsening Supply Crisis

Fuel prices add to inflation pressure

Transport costs recorded an annual inflation rate of 15.7 per cent, with fuel prices accounting for a significant share of the increase.

Diesel was 26.8 per cent more expensive in August than in the same month last year, while petrol prices rose by 15.3 per cent.

The monthly picture was less pronounced. Diesel prices fell by 2.2 per cent between July and August.

Also Read: REVEALED: What’s Making Life More Expensive for Kenyans as Inflation Drops to 6.4%

Transport services, meanwhile, recorded increases during the month. Local flight fares went up by 4.1 per cent, while inter-town bus and matatu fares rose by 2.1 per cent.

Housing-related expenses also recorded annual increases, with the category rising by 3.6 per cent.

Electricity prices went up by 0.2 per cent between July and August, while charcoal prices increased by 0.4 per cent. Liquefied petroleum gas prices fell by 0.2 per cent during the same period.

The latest figures put annual inflation at 6.6 per cent, up from 6.4 per cent in June and 6.5 per cent in July.

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Cooking oil, tomatoes and other essentials recorded price increases in August. PHOTO/CBK.